Before and after the holidays: underwater. Tired. We yawn without realizing it, we almost fall asleep during the video call and despite the music blasting in our headphones, nothing works: exhausted in zombie mode. Our tan is nevertheless impeccable and the magical photos on our phone prove that we are back from vacation. Is it a nasty virus that is circulating? A lack of vitamins as if winter was already back? Some go to their GP, feeling flu-like, cold and so tired when the alarm goes off in the morning. No, you are not alone: only 11% of French people feel in great shape after their vacation, according to a study by the NaturAvignon laboratory on August 27, with even 53% of men “not in shape at all” (compared to 47% of women). “It’s quite recurrent at this time of year,” reassures François Morin, CEO of NaturAvignon, a specialist in food supplements. “It’s a little slump that can be explained by the circadian cycles.” A biological clock that takes on other habits during the holidays: it must get back into its rhythm when returning to work. “During the holidays, we go to bed later and when it’s back to school, night falls earlier and often, we have less sun.”
Another phenomenon is put forward by the expert: “When we are on vacation, we relax a little. Aperitifs, sugars, sodas… it is often an unbalanced diet (81% of respondents have digestive problems, 87% have gained weight)”. In the end, 63% of vacationers feel stressed upon their return with sleep problems. “Less physical activity and some also lose their social activity. They can become depressed when they find themselves alone”.
Is this back-to-school blow just physical or psychological? No: 55% of French people believe that the workload during this summer period is just as heavy as the rest of the year (OpinionWay for Factorial, August 2023). “Many employees have not had enough time to disconnect,” comments Marian Pumir de Louvigny, senior product manager at Factorial, a start-up specializing in the automation of HR processes. “It’s a lack of preparation, anticipation and clarification before going on vacation.”
“We’re back on the wheel like the hamster”
Result: 65% of senior executives check their emails during their holidays. And when they return, 60% of employees say they have trouble getting back into the swing of things. This figure peaks at 72% for those under 35. “People often arrive on holiday tired. Back pain, voice problems, repeated ear infections… We change pace, our bodies readjust, we get into the swing of things on holiday, but we don’t give our bodies time to regenerate and it’s already time to go home,” describes management trainer Gilone de Maigret, co-author of 50 tips to regain energy! (Eyrolles, September 2024). Not to mention the pressure we put on ourselves to “succeed” in our vacations and our return. “The way we work is increasingly competitive, there is an acceleration in the pace of work,” continues his co-author, Denis Pennel. “There is apprehension before returning and we fall back into the wheel like a hamster… Which consumes the energy we had found during our vacations.”
“To remedy this phase, you need to get back to sleep by forgetting the blue screens before going to bed and getting back on track with your schedule; doing physical exercise to get your endorphins back; getting back into social activity and eating healthy,” recommends François Morin. “The real challenge is to get back in sync with your work environment, which can take 10 to 15 days,” says Gilone de Maigret. She invites us to “accept letting go, tell ourselves that we can’t control the weather” but also to “prolong our physical activities, make some effort to activate the reward circuit. Sort out or throw away what won’t be used.” Denis Pennel’s final piece of advice to get back this motivation that is a formidable antidote to the September gloom: “focus on new activities, a new project.”
.